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    Home » Entrées

    Cheesy Chipotle Pumpkin Polenta with Garlic Roasted Veggies

    Published: Oct 11, 2017 · Modified: May 10, 2022 by Kristen Wood

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    Disclaimer: You will find affiliate links for the products I use and love on this blog. I will earn from any purchases you make from these links, but it is at no extra cost to you. I appreciate your support!

    A warm, hearty, and nourishing bowl of corn grits (polenta) chock full of pumpkin, chipotle peppers, and sharp cheddar cheese. This beautiful gluten-free vegetarian dish is topped off with tender and nutritious garlic roasted vegetables. A perfect autumn meal!

     A warm, hearty, and nourishing bowl of grits (polenta) chock full of pumpkin, chipotle peppers, and sharp cheddar cheese. This beautiful gluten-free vegetarian dish is topped off with tender and nutritious garlic roasted vegetables. A perfect autumn meal! #grits #pumpkin #pumpkingrits #pumpkinchipotle #cheesy #polenta #garlic #roastedveggies #autumn #halloween #brunch

    Having grown up in the South, grits are certainly not a stranger to me . . .

    Buy our Weekly Meal Planning Printable for $2.29. 💜

     A warm, hearty, and nourishing bowl of grits (polenta) chock full of pumpkin, chipotle peppers, and sharp cheddar cheese. This beautiful gluten-free vegetarian dish is topped off with tender and nutritious garlic roasted vegetables. A perfect autumn meal! #grits #pumpkin #pumpkingrits #pumpkinchipotle #cheesy #polenta #garlic #roastedveggies #autumn #halloween #brunch

    ...and having lived in the Southwest for 10+ years, I find smoky, spicy chipotle peppers to not be a stranger either!

     A warm, hearty, and nourishing bowl of grits (polenta) chock full of pumpkin, chipotle peppers, and sharp cheddar cheese. This beautiful gluten-free vegetarian dish is topped off with tender and nutritious garlic roasted vegetables. A perfect autumn meal! #grits #pumpkin #pumpkingrits #pumpkinchipotle #cheesy #polenta #garlic #roastedveggies #autumn #halloween #brunch

    This beautiful autumn dish is the marriage of these two cuisines that I hold dear. Throw in a little pumpkin of the season, some cheesy goodness, some roasted veggies, and you have a delightful, nutritious dish rich in flavors, colors, texture that will be sure to enliven your taste buds, and make your heart happy.

     A warm, hearty, and nourishing bowl of grits (polenta) chock full of pumpkin, chipotle peppers, and sharp cheddar cheese. This beautiful gluten-free vegetarian dish is topped off with tender and nutritious garlic roasted vegetables. A perfect autumn meal! #grits #pumpkin #pumpkingrits #pumpkinchipotle #cheesy #polenta #garlic #roastedveggies #autumn #halloween #brunch

    What is Polenta?

    Both Polenta and Grits are made from dried, ground corn kernels. While the variety of corn used can vary as well as the size of the grind, both polenta and grits can be used interchangeably in most recipes.

     A warm, hearty, and nourishing bowl of grits (polenta) chock full of pumpkin, chipotle peppers, and sharp cheddar cheese. This beautiful gluten-free vegetarian dish is topped off with tender and nutritious garlic roasted vegetables. A perfect autumn meal! #grits #pumpkin #pumpkingrits #pumpkinchipotle #cheesy #polenta #garlic #roastedveggies #autumn #halloween #brunch

     A warm, hearty, and nourishing bowl of grits (polenta) chock full of pumpkin, chipotle peppers, and sharp cheddar cheese. This beautiful gluten-free vegetarian dish is topped off with tender and nutritious garlic roasted vegetables. A perfect autumn meal! #grits #pumpkin #pumpkingrits #pumpkinchipotle #cheesy #polenta #garlic #roastedveggies #autumn #halloween #brunch

    This Pumpkin Polenta Recipe is

    • Creamy, cozy and comforting.

    • Slightly spicy, slightly sweet — perfectly cheesy.

    • Easy to make.

    • Perfectly spiced.

    • Great on its own or served alongside other savory dishes.

    • Gluten-free, soy-free, nut-free, vegetarian, and refined sugar-free.

     A warm, hearty, and nourishing bowl of grits (polenta) chock full of pumpkin, chipotle peppers, and sharp cheddar cheese. This beautiful gluten-free vegetarian dish is topped off with tender and nutritious garlic roasted vegetables. A perfect autumn meal! #grits #pumpkin #pumpkingrits #pumpkinchipotle #cheesy #polenta #garlic #roastedveggies #autumn #halloween #brunch

     A warm, hearty, and nourishing bowl of grits (polenta) chock full of pumpkin, chipotle peppers, and sharp cheddar cheese. This beautiful gluten-free vegetarian dish is topped off with tender and nutritious garlic roasted vegetables. A perfect autumn meal! #grits #pumpkin #pumpkingrits #pumpkinchipotle #cheesy #polenta #garlic #roastedveggies #autumn #halloween #brunch

    Top Tips for Making Savory Pumpkin Grits

    • Please note: not all canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce are gluten-free; some use wheat flour as an ingredient, so look carefully if on a gluten-free diet. I like these chipotle peppers.

    • Canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce work best, but in a pinch chipotle powder can be used, simply use approx. 1 tablespoon as a substitute.

    • Not all grits/polenta is gluten-free. I prefer Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Polenta Corn Grits.

    • You want to look for a pumpkin puree that is nothing more than pumpkin (no added ingredients). I like this pumpkin puree.

    • Do you want to make this Pumpkin Polenta vegan? Simply use vegan butter and vegan cheese as replacements.

    • Honey greatly complements the other flavors in this dish, but any sweetener of choice can be used as a replacement.

    • For a sugar-free pumpkin polenta, I like this sugar-free honey alternative.

    • You can use any variety of roasted vegetables you desire in this recipe — feel free to experiment!

    • This polenta dish tastes best served fresh, but can be stored in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to one week. To reheat simply place in a saucepan over medium heat until warmed throughout.

     A warm, hearty, and nourishing bowl of grits (polenta) chock full of pumpkin, chipotle peppers, and sharp cheddar cheese. This beautiful gluten-free vegetarian dish is topped off with tender and nutritious garlic roasted vegetables. A perfect autumn meal! #grits #pumpkin #pumpkingrits #pumpkinchipotle #cheesy #polenta #garlic #roastedveggies #autumn #halloween #brunch

     A warm, hearty, and nourishing bowl of grits (polenta) chock full of pumpkin, chipotle peppers, and sharp cheddar cheese. This beautiful gluten-free vegetarian dish is topped off with tender and nutritious garlic roasted vegetables. A perfect autumn meal! #grits #pumpkin #pumpkingrits #pumpkinchipotle #cheesy #polenta #garlic #roastedveggies #autumn #halloween #brunch

     A warm, hearty, and nourishing bowl of grits (polenta) chock full of pumpkin, chipotle peppers, and sharp cheddar cheese. This beautiful gluten-free vegetarian dish is topped off with tender and nutritious garlic roasted vegetables. A perfect autumn meal! #grits #pumpkin #pumpkingrits #pumpkinchipotle #cheesy #polenta #garlic #roastedveggies #autumn #halloween #brunch

    More Pumpkin Recipes

    Pumpkin Sticky Roll Skillet Cake with Cinnamon Tahini Cream Cheese Icing (Gluten-Free)

    Sweet & Spicy Pumpkin Seed Bread (Gluten-Free)
    Spicy Roasted Red Pepper & Chipotle Pumpkin Seed Pasta Bowl (Vegan, Gluten-Free)

    Almond + Coconut Pumpkin Muffins (Gluten-Free)

    Pumpkin Seed Vegan Ranch Dressing

     

     A warm, hearty, and nourishing bowl of grits (polenta) chock full of pumpkin, chipotle peppers, and sharp cheddar cheese. This beautiful gluten-free vegetarian dish is topped off with tender and nutritious garlic roasted vegetables. A perfect autumn meal! #grits #pumpkin #pumpkingrits #pumpkinchipotle #cheesy #polenta #garlic #roastedveggies #autumn #halloween #brunch

    And might I add that it beautifully accompanies a bit of Pan de Yuca? It does indeed . . .

     A warm, hearty, and nourishing bowl of grits (polenta) chock full of pumpkin, chipotle peppers, and sharp cheddar cheese. This beautiful gluten-free vegetarian dish is topped off with tender and nutritious garlic roasted vegetables. A perfect autumn meal! #grits #pumpkin #pumpkingrits #pumpkinchipotle #cheesy #polenta #garlic #roastedveggies #autumn #halloween #brunch

     

    pumpkin grits in a bowl

    Cheesy Chipotle Pumpkin Polenta with Garlic Roasted Veggies

    A warm, hearty, and nourishing bowl of corn grits (polenta) chock full of pumpkin, chipotle peppers, and sharp cheddar cheese. This beautiful gluten-free vegetarian dish is topped off with tender and nutritious garlic roasted vegetables. A perfect autumn meal!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate SaveSaved!
    Course: Appetizers, Entrées, Main Course
    Cuisine: Southwestern
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Author: Kristen Wood

    Ingredients

    • 3 1/4 cups water
    • 1 cup polenta corn grits
    • 1 tsp sea salt
    • 2 chipotle peppers diced
    • 3 tsp adobo sauce from can of chipotle peppers
    • 3 tbs pumpkin puree
    • 1 tbs butter
    • 2 tsp raw honey
    • 3/4 tsp garlic powder
    • 1/2 tsp ground cumin
    • 1/2 tsp paprika
    • 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded
    • Garlic Roasted Veggies:
    • 3 small zucchini quartered
    • handful baby tomatoes halved
    • 1 head of garlic cloves separated, paper left on
    • pinch sea salt
    • pinch ground black pepper
    • pinch garlic powder
    • olive oil to drizzle
    • freshly chopped cilantro to garnish
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    Instructions

    • In a large saucepan bring water, grits, and salt to a boil.
    • Reduce to simmer.
    • Stir in peppers, adobo sauce, pumpkin, butter, honey and spices. Mix until smooth.
    • Let simmer on low heat for about 10 minutes, or until water is absorbed and consistency is to your liking.
    • Turn off heat, stir in cheese, cover and let sit for 5 minutes or until ready to eat.
    • Salt to taste.
    • To prepare your garlic roasted veggies preheat oven to 425°F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
    • Place your prepped veggies on your cookie sheet, sprinkle with spices, and drizzle with oil.
    • Roast for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
    • Fill a bowl with grits, top with veggies, squeeze garlic cloves out of skins, sprinkle with cilantro and enjoy!

    Notes

    Please refer to the 'Tips' section above in the post for valuable information!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1bowl | Calories: 326kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 37mg | Sodium: 1440mg | Potassium: 105mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 2227IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 217mg | Iron: 1mg

    Equipment

    Corn Grits (Polenta)
    Have you tried this recipe?Please Rate + Comment Below!
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    About Kristen Wood

    Hi! I'm Kristen -- a mama, photographer, recipe developer and author of The Vegetarian Family Cookbook, Hot Sauce Cookbook for Beginners and Fermented Hot Sauce Cookbook. I enjoy sharing both wildly creative and ridiculously practical gluten-free vegetarian recipes that are approachable for all. Everything you see here is infused with a bit of nature, magic and good health.

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